Draft-rigging



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. M. PIPER.

DRAFT RIGGING. No. 566,935. Patented Sept. 1, 1896.

wrmssszs INVENTOR ww 51k (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. M. PIPER.

DRAFT RIGGING Patented SepLl, 1896.

L I r UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

IVILLIAM MORGAN PIPER, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

DRAFT-RIGGING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,935, datedSeptember 1, 1896.

Application filed April 16,1896. fierial No. 587,747. (No model.)

.To all whom it 1mm ounce/'1 Be it known that LWILLIAM MORGAN PIPER, ofAllegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Draft-Riggings, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, inwhich Figure l is a bottom plan view of the preferred form of myinvention as applied to the draft-rigging of a car. Fig. 2 is across-section on the line II II of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan viewshowing another form of draft-rigging provided with my invention; andFig. at is a similar view, partly broken away, showing the invention asapplied to a car-buffer.

My invention relates to the class of devices employed to take upstrains, either of a compressive or pulling nature, such as in thedraft-rigging or supporting-springs of cars; and it consists in two ormore blocks or plates, at least one of which is provided withoppositely-directed inclines, and wedges which are held between theseplates and are normally forced apart by a yielding pressure constantlyexerted thereon, the strain being applied to the block or plate havingthe inclines and forcing the wedges along these in- .clines.

In the drawings, in which similar numerals indicate corresponding parts,Fig. 1 shows the preferred form of my invention as applied to adraftrigging, 2 2 being the drafttimbers secured to the bottom of thecar, 3 the end sill, and I the draw-bar carrying the coupler-head 5. Thedraw-bar rests upon the carry-iron 6, of the usual stirrup shape, and atits rear endis reduced in diameter and secured to a sliding block 7 by asuitable nut 8. The shoulder 9 at the end of the reduced portion of thebar rests against the opposite face of the block and the forward portionof the bar extends through a stationary end plate 10 and through anothersliding block 7, similar to the one in which the draw-bar is secured,the draw-bar also having a shoulder abutting against the forward end ofthe outer block 7, as shown in dotted lines. Each of these blocks 7 7 isprovided on its inner face with oppositely directed inclines 11, betweenwhich are held the wedges 12 12, which are preferably provided withprojecting tongues 13, entering grooves in the inclines to hold andguide the wedges in their movements.

7 The blocks 7 7 are held bet-ween guide-plates 11, secured to thedraft-timbers, these plates having inwardly-projecting lower flanges 15to support the blocks. The wedges 12 are normally held at the outerlimitof their movement by spiral springs 16, bearing against their oppositefaces and entering'suitable recesses therein, as shown in Fig. 2. In therear of the block 7 is a similar block 7 which normally contactstherewith and is of similar shape, this block 7 coacting with a block 7which is provided with the opposite inclines, on both its faces, beingpractically the same as two of the blocks 7 secured to each other, backto back. To prevent the block 7 from moving forward beyond its normalposit-ion during a pull upon the coupler, I provide projecting stops 23on the side plates, which rest within grooves in the ends of the blocks7 and 7 but which prevent forward movement of block 7 beyond the desiredpoint.

Ooacting with the rear face of block 7 b is a fifth block 7 which restsagainst and may be a part of a stationary end plate 20. Coacting withthe inclines of plates 7, 7 and 7 are the wedges 12 and 12", normallyforced apart by springs 16 and 16 the arrangement beings imilar to thatof the blocks 7 7 and all of these blocks sliding within theguide-plates 14. The spring 16 is preferably much weaker than the spring16 so that when a pressure is exerted upon the coupler the series ofblocks 7 7 and 7 slide rearwardly and the wedges 12 move down theinclines against the pressure of the spring 16 until they near the limitof their inward movement, when the block 7 begins to move rearwardly andcompress the spring 16, thus equalizing the shock of the blow and givinga steady even movement. 'As the shoulders upon the draw-bar abut againstthe plates 7 7 these plates do not move relatively to each other uponthe in ward movement of the draw-bar, but when an outward strain isbrought thereon the inner block 7 is drawn outwardly,driving the wedges12 12 down the inclines of these blocks 7 and compressing the spring 16.

In the form of Fig. 3 the draw-bar is provided with a yoke 21, whichsurrounds the draft device, being bolted to the inner sliding block 7 dand contacting with the front face of the outer similar block. Betweenthese blocks is the block 7 having its faces provided with oppositeinclines coacting with those of the blocks 7, wedges 12 and 12 beingemployed as before and actuated by similar springs 16 and 16.

In Fig. 4 I show my inyention as applied to a bufier, the buffer-stem 22having a shoulder which contacts with the outer sliding block 7 i and areduced portion 23 passing through and secured thereto. The arrangementis otherwise similar to that of Fig. 3, there being three blocks and twosprings coacting with the wedges, as before. By using the sliding blocksas top and bottom plates the device will form an efficientspring-bearing for cars, and by connecting these wedges on oppositesides of a car they will all move in unison and swaying of the car isthus avoided.

The advantages of my invention will be appreciated by those skilled inthe art, since sudden jars or shocks are avoided and a steady evenmotion imparted.

On account of the friction between the wedges and the inclines, a muchmore flexible spring may be employed than ordinarily, and the entiredevice is simple, compact, and not liable to get out of order.

Many variations in the form and arrangement of the blocks, the springs,and wedges may be made without departing from my invention, since Iclaim- 1. The combination with a longitudinally movable bar, of a blockarranged transversely of the same and actuated thereby, said blockhaving oppositelydirected inclines, guides for the block, wedgescontacting with the inclines, and a spring bearing upon the wedges andarranged to resist their movement along the inclines; substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination with a longitudinallymovable bar, of a block arrangedtransversely of the same and actuated thereby, said block havingoppositely-directed inclines, guides for the block, wedges contactingwith the inclines, and a transverse spring extending between the wedgesand arranged to force them apart; substantially as described.

ing stronger than the other; substantially as described.

5. The combinationwith a longitudinallylnovable bar, of two or moreblocks extending transversely of the same, at least one of the blocksbeing secured to the bar and having oppositely-directed inclines, wedgesmovable upon the inclines and a spring arranged to bear upon the wedges;substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

W. MORGAN PIPER.

\Vitnesses G. I. HoLnsHIr,

C. BYRNES.

